Mikayla Cunningham
Mikayla Cunningham
About Mikayla
Expert Analysis
Guilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
Cunningham is the top-ranked forward in our list, also appearing inside the top three overall, in third place. She goes to Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio and competes in the ECNL League with Classics Elite U19. Constantly called up for the USYNT, she’s one of the top attacking players in the entire country in her age group, making a difference with her well-rounded and diverse skill set. A center forward, Cunningham has incredible athletic tools and is physical enough to occupy two center backs at once. Very quick and lethal in front of the goal, she makes her name with well-timed runs behind the backline and clinical finishes. Cunningham likes to get involved in the team’s playmaking, dropping deep to get on the ball and creating chances with strong runs on the ball and accurate passing.
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Read EvaluationGuilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
Cunningham will lead the line for Classics Elite G08/07 in their matches against San Francisco Elite Academy RL, Concorde Fire Premier and Rebels SC in Phoenix. One of the top forwards in Texas, she’s a handful to opposing defenders with her ability to make runs and attack the space. Cunningham is a striker, but an extremely mobile one, who moves everywhere on the final third looking to get on the ball and is very difficult to stop when she gets going. She’s excellent at creating chances for her teammates and even better at converting the ones she has.
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Read EvaluationNikolai Littleton | Prep Soccer Scout
Really wish I could have found some highlights on this player because her resume is ridiculous. #2 overall player out of Texas is headed to an excellent program/athletic department Clemson University. A lot of ties this year for Clemson thus far but have proven they can compete with the best in the country.
Scout Grade: A-
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Read EvaluationJR Eskilson | Prep Soccer Scout
Cunningham is an 08 and part of the US Youth National Team in that age group. She is an elite talent in the attack thanks to her ability as a highly efficient finisher who can also create for her teammates. She plays up an age group at the club level and still finds ways to impact the game against the best talent two classes above here.
The way Cunningham moves off the ball and her ability to stretch the defense with her pace is reminiscent of Lyon attacking talent Kadidiatou Diani. They both are elite at playing off the shoulders of defenders.
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Read EvaluationGuilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
Cunningham and her Classics Elite G07 teammates have matches scheduled against FC Alliance, Northwest Elite FC and Florida West FC this weekend in Dallas. A class of 2027 prospect, she will be playing not one, but two age groups up and will probably still be a difference-maker for her team. A forward with impressive physical and technical tools, she’s really difficult to stop and can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. Cunningham is certainly at her best when she has room to run with or without the ball, but she can also play with her back to the goal and gets to shield the ball extremely well. She often gets into great spots inside the penalty box and is a very efficient finisher. The forward will take part in a US U16 national team training camp in California a few days after the event.
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Read EvaluationGuilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
Cunningham and her new team Classics Elite G07 will meet Liverpool FC IA Michigan, Marin FC and Alabama FC while in Arizona. After standing out among the 08s last season, she’s playing up now and continues to be a strong offensive player. Cunnigham is very fast and does a great job of making herself available for her teammates, be it to get the ball to her feet or passes behind the backline. She uses her body well to shield the ball and is very direct, pushing it towards the goal. Cunnigham is a very good finisher, but also likes to use her skills to create to her teammates.
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Read EvaluationGuilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
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Read EvaluationGuilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
Few players were as important to their teams over the weekend as Cunningham, who scored seven of Classics Elite 08’s nine goals in the event. I watched her in action in their last match, a 2-2 tie with Pride SC 08 on Monday, and it was easy to understand her success. A long-legged forward, Cunningham has incredible pace and plays with a lot of intensity. She makes excellent runs behind the backline and doesn’t slow down if a defender gets first to the ball, putting a lot of pressure on them. She also moves really well inside the penalty box and often gets in good positions to score.
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Read EvaluationGuilherme Torres | Prep Soccer Scout
Cunningham did a great job of making herself available for her teammates. A tall and athletic forward, she made good runs through both flanks and was intelligent to get on the ball behind the backline. Cunningham’s pace was so impressive that even when she started behind, she would still put a lot of pressure on the defender she was chasing. She also displayed good talent to check back around the midifield line to help her team move the ball around.
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